Make 'em Go Ah, Ah, Ah-way

As spring gives way to the season of sand, sunburns, and prescription deodorant, one of the most highly coveted holidays quickly approaches. It is the one holiday that remains absent of weddings, bloat, and obligatory gift giving. It's the only time that everyone can do whatever the want -- hopefully some activity involving a beach, boat, or barbeque. Not only is the Fourth of July fun and relaxing, but more importantly, it celebrates American independence. Now that's something to get psyched about.

So, in all my excitement about the holiday, why I'm leaving out one the most iconic images?

Fireworks!
http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/01/12507973-fireworks-festival-lights-up-skies-over-zagreb?lite

Look a little closer....

Have you ever noticed the haze that fireworks leave behind?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/6488006/Firework-design-has-come-a-long-way-from-exploding-bamboo.html

While beautiful, fireworks generate a significant amount of environmental pollution.

1. Non-biodegradable wastes: 20 tons of plastic firework waste was collected over 28 miles of a Washington state beach in 2010. Six months later, they were still collecting whatever trash wasn't consumed by wildlife. On a personal level, think about all of the trash your neighborhood sparklers, drop pops, snakes, and party poppers make.

2. Chemicals and air particulates: Sulfur, perchlorate, lead, cadmium, rubidium, strontium, lithium, antimony... not good. In addition to chemicals and heavy metals, significant quantities of particulates are released and can drastically change a city's air quality. None of these things are good for you, your children, or your pets. 

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2011/07/fireworks-air-quality-alert.html

Disneyland's daily fireworks generated smoke and odor complaints from nearby residents. After a thorough study in 2004, Disney moved away from gun powder and now uses compressed air to jettison their fireworks high into the air. I love the star spangled banner as much as the next person, but "bombs bursting in air" isn't something to be repeated every year (or every week or day). We must move toward modern cleaner methods like this.

Laser light show in Brisbane: another more friendly alternative
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32053650@N03/7986569321/

A Promising Transition or The Death of Renewables

Last month's Atlantic featured a thoughtful analysis of natural gas and it's affect on the economy. The article discusses the unfortunate past, transitional present, and dubious future of energy:

Past:
Fuel: Coal --> Oil
Politics: In 1913, Winston Churchill pushed to convert Great Britain from coal to oil, a campaign which embedded the West within the heart of the Middle East. Dependence on foreign oil was born. In an effort to stabilize oil supply, Western leaders meddled in regional affairs, supporting welcoming leaders and ousting the rest. While our oil supply was being controlled, the economic and civic strength of these countries was compromised, causing destabilization that produced millions of disaffected middle easterners, some of whom have since lashed back at America.

Present:
Fuel: Oil --> Natural Gas
Politics: Natural gas is clearly a political win. Because America has a lot of it, the concern over foreign oil dependence may soon end. Not only that, but natural gas could play a role in economic recovery. The peak oil debate is no longer relevant. Improving technologies will likely lead to a nearly endless supply of fossil fuels, regardless of source or form. Reversely, cheap, bountiful natural gas makes renewable energy a lot less competitive.

Future:
Fuel: Natural Gas, Renewables, or Both
Politics: The question is, will natural gas become our main energy source or will it act as the gateway to a more sustainable future? Carbon emissions need to be all but eliminated in order to combat climate change, and settling on natural gas could be our undoing.


Some Background: Natural Gas and Fracking

Livestock are responsible for approximately 30% of US methane emissions.

Currently, natural gas is obtained through a process called fracking (hydraulic fracturing), which uses a horizontal drill and a high pressure slurry (water, chemicals, sand, etc) to extract methane from shale rock. I don't protest natural gas, nor do I advocate it. My only hope is that we don't suffer from the Trojan horse effect.

Pros:
1. It has the potential of eliminating our dependence on foreign oil. As stability in the Middle East becomes increasingly tenuous, this is essential.
2. Natural gas burns cleaner than oil and coal. CO2 emissions in the US have decreased 12% over the last 7 years, due in part to the natural gas boom.
3. Natural gas has an EROEI (energy return on energy invested) of 87, as compared to 4-7 for tar sands, and 12-18 for OPEC oil. Though these exact numbers may be debated, natural gas is typically the leader.
4. Natural gas is bountiful and cheap, which may aid US economic recovery.

Cons:
1. Despite some claims that methane leaks from fracking are minimal, actual field tests have not been completed. Some large, undiscovered leaks could lead to significant releases of methane, a far worse greenhouse gas than CO2.
2. The high pressure extraction liquids used in fracking could contaminate surrounding areas. While rules on concrete well casings have been established, the BLM (National Bureau of Land Management) is not requiring companies to post a complete list of chemicals if they are considered trade secrets. Furthermore, all chemical reporting does not  need to be completed until AFTER wells have been tapped.
3. There is not yet enough historical data to prove that methane won't leak through the fissures up into the soil, for which there are no protections in place.
  

Coming to America: Is Outsourcing of the Past?

Over Thanksgiving, I read an article called "The Insourcing Boom" in The Atlantic. It was an interesting read, and I highly recommend it.

from thetruthaboutcars.com

 Outsourcing began as a way to reduce labor costs. However, that math doesn't always add up; outsourcing is not a sure-fire win. The point of the article is to highlight how several distinct differences between 1960 and today should change our perspective on manufacturing.

1)  By separating production from design with thousands of miles and a language barrier, efficiency is compromised. GE was able to reduce 35% of the labor required for their dishwasher assembly line through lean manufacturing principles.

"If the people who design dishwashers sit at their desks in one building, and the people who sell them to retailers and consumers sit at their desks in another building, and the people who make the dishwashers are in a different country and speak a different language—you never realize that the four screws should disappear, let alone come up with a way they can."- Fishman, discussing how internal collaboration can lead to the detection of inefficiencies

2) There is a growing trend for specialized products that continue evolving as new technology is developed. Not only do American companies want to protect their IP by keeping it within our borders but they also want the ability to deliver cutting-edge products quickly.

"In specific terms, the service that... a growing number of design firms can offer is a “quick iteration” way of deciding which ideas will be most practical for manufacturing. “Over the past couple of years, people have gotten used to the idea of rapid iteration in social-media firms,” Linus Chung told me. “You iterate and adapt quickly based on consumer demand. You learn to ‘fail fast.’ We’re bringing that to the hardware space.”" - Fallows, describing how local manufacturing gives companies the ability to tweak and roll out their products quickly and effectively ("Mr. China Comes to America")

3) Fuel costs are not what they used to be. Rising oil prices make long distance shipments increasingly expensive. Furthermore, energy costs in the US are decreasing due to the availability of cheap natural gas.

4) The weight of labor costs on total production cost is decreasing and the divide between Chinese and American labor wage is decreasing.

"Insourcing" has environmental implications as well. By bringing manufacturing closer to engineering expertise and it's target consumer market, transportation emissions are cut, production efficiency increases, and waste is reduced.

At my company, we put immense focus on integrating all parts of the design/manufacturing/sales process. By having open channels of communication, we are able to design systems upfront that promote efficiency and success in all parts of the supply chain, from design through operation and sales.

Open the Floodgates (for discussion, not oil)

The Exxon pipeline fiasco in Arkansas will surely lead to debate over the prudence of Keystone XL, especially if it traverses environmentally sensitive areas/communities.

Exxon Mobil was fined three years prior to this accident for failing to test the integrity of their pipeline frequently enough.

One question is: what are the federal safety requirements (i.e. excess flow devices, pressure monitoring, etc.) for pipelines that are hundreds of miles long? Did Exxon implement insufficient mitigation methods to prevent such a large spill or was this a lack of foresight by the government/NFPA to establish safety codes with adequate levels of protection? If Keystone XL moves forward, what will prevent this from happening again? TransCanada believes they have technology that could stop a leak in 15 minutes. Even if they do, that's a long time for a large, high pressure pipeline to be pouring out oil.

I wish we could spur debate on issues without bad things happening. #SandyHook #ExxonArkansas

A Wet Hot Icelandic Winter

I traveled to Iceland in late February this year, and I learned three important things:

1) Icelandic words are incredibly difficult to pronounce. --It took me an entire week to master "Eyjafjallajokull" -- (Ay-ya-fyeht-la-yo-kutl)

2) I don't mind the rain (no matter how INCONVENIENT), because it makes scenery vibrant.

3) If I lived in Iceland, I would have a very small carbon footprint.

Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland's famous volcano.
It was too foggy for a good shot.

The famous hot dog stand in downtown Reykjavik where former President Clinton insulted an entire country by eating a hot dog with "only ketchup"

On the surface, Iceland, covered in ice and rock, might seem like a cold and barren island with no hope for renewable energy. But, if you look deeper, you'll see that these are exactly the things that allow Iceland to be so self-sufficient.

Ice => Melting glaciers provide a steady stream of  freshwater and hydropower.
Lava rock => Lava rock is rich in nutrients and leads to fertile soil.
Volcanic activity => Geothermal hotspots are everywhere on the island.

Tomato hothouse outside Reykjavik

Iceland harvests 90% of its heat from geothermal energy and obtains ~75% of its electricity from hydropower. Less than .1% comes from fossil fuels.

If you're on an island where everything is imported and expensive, use geothermal energy to power and heat greenhouses! ------------------>

The only concern in Iceland's renewable energy future is climate change. Short term impacts look positive -- improved weather, growth in hydropower from glacial melt, increased travel via opened waterways, and widened geothermal sites. However, when the glaciers have melted away, freshwater and hydropower will be limited, and newly uncovered oil fields may lead to carbon dependency. Here's hoping for some genuine Icelandic creativity!

> 50 sq km of moss covered lava rock

Jokulsarlon - glacier lagoon

The Blue Lagoon - a geothermal spa

Return of the Mack

This last year has been an adventure. I left campus in Evanston, IL to start my career in the big small city. For a Northwestern graduate, Midland, Michigan is an atypical destination --many of my friends ended up in NYC and the others are scattered in places like LA, San Francisco, and Houston. Since I grew up in a small town, unlike many of them, I wasn't expecting culture shock. Little did I know how much five formative years in the city changed me.

When I moved to Midland, I immediately wished I didn't hate biking, because, besides that, the only other forms of transportation are cars and tractors -- Midland isn't much of a walkable city. My new lifestyle includes owning a car and embarrassingly, I do not carpool to work. I've been exposed to people who REALLY dislike being inconvenienced. They would rather use the trash can two feet away than walk the extra ten to the recycling bin; they don't care to turn off the lights; and they love autostart. Okay, I must admit, when Michigan weather hits 10 below, I wish my car was toasty on the ride to work, too.

Despite it all, I really do like it here. I've made some close friends, and I enjoy my work. The engineering and life experienced I've gained has been invaluable. Through my projects, I've seen, firsthand, how business and environmental goals can truly align. Reducing waste = $$. 

Here's to putting an end to my blogging hiatus.

Dow Gardens, Midland, MI

The World is Going Electric - no wait - Just China

China is planning to invest $1.5 billion annually in electric vehicles, starting with trial taxi services in Shenzhen and Hangzhou. If all goes as planned, they'll have 500,000 electric vehicles throughout the country by 2015.

An electric taxi in Shenzhen, China

Although the cost of these vehicles is still extremely high - 80% more than its carbon counterparts, the government's unique approach to integrating electric car technologies into society may prove to be just what the industry needs. Their system exposes people to electric car technology without requiring them to make the initial investment. Instead, their 3 yuan fuel surcharge is waived, and trips in these taxis are actually cheaper, incentivizing ridership. Furthermore, these taxi services require the construction of charging stations, which provide necessary infrastructure for the expansion of individual electric vehicle usage.

Yet, it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing. Safety issues have plagued taxis in Hangzhou, and individual consumers still aren't buying electric vehicles.

That said, putting these vehicles on the road and collecting performance and user data will undoubtedly lead to greater testing and improvements. As a result, electric vehicles may become both safe and cost competitive.

Cards that Grow, Literally

I always get a weird feeling when environmental groups hand out flyers. Sometimes, I'm annoyed: "No, I do not want another random piece of paper that I'm going to throw away before I even get home. Or, it's guilt: "I pretend to be an environmentalist but please take my flier even though I know you're going to throw it away before you get home".

PROBLEM SOLVED!

A plantable business card

It's called plantable paper, and it comes in the form of business cards (Think of the networking conversations this could spark!), fliers, invitations, post cards, and more. Just add water (and soil if you have it) and voila!

Seeds range from wildflowers all the way to the edibles like basil and chives

I'm SO doing these if/when I get married!

Thanks for the heads up Brooke! These are pretty sweet.

Chicago is One Step Ahead

"Chicago is often called the Second City, but it is way out in front of most in terms of adaptation" -Leslie Kaufman

Chicago is preparing for climate change.

Score for permeable pavement!

Cube-tastic

A tour of the Cube from Mike Page on Vimeo.

Imagine if they stacked these in NY. I have at least one friend who would benefit from this efficient use of space.

thanks Sasha =)

Natural Gas Isn't Perfect. Shocker.

I know it's old news, but I've been ill.

Natural gas may not be as "clean" a fossil fuel as once imagined. We all know that natural gas (methane) is over 20 times as powerful a greenhouse gas than CO2, and now, a report out of Cornell shows that natural gas mining, fracking in particular, may release enough methane to make it more harmful than coal. It's safe to say that T. Boone Pickens probably wasn't too happy.

A comparison of GHG emissions from various fossil fuels over a 20 year period. From NYTimes Tom Zeller's blog post.

To me, this study doesn't render natural gas unworthy. Instead, it serves as an incentive for the industry to improve their practices so that natural gas may facilitate our move toward renewable energy.

Dishwashing: Man vs. Machine

I always held the general impression that using machines and being green were inherently incompatible. When it comes to the battle between dishwasher and man, my friends tend to agree: some said hand washing was definitely greener and some, one of which referenced the "heated dry" function, were torn. However, contrary to popular belief, manual labor, conveniently, may not be the answer.

Collin Dunn did a detailed comparison of EnergyStar dishwashers and hand washing. I've adapted some of his analysis in order to compare hand washing to conventional dishwashers. Water and energy use for hand washing was determined assuming [warm] water use equivalent to that in a dishwasher cycle. For example, 54 dishes (the typical capacity of a dishwasher) washed in 6 gallons of water (the typical amount of water consumed in a dishwasher) means that only 1.75 cups of water from the faucet can be used per dish. If fewer dishes need to be washed, say 27 dishes, then the equivalent water use would be 3.7 cups per dish.

These numbers may seem confusing. Reference Dunn's article for more detailed calculations.

Moral of the story? When you have a large number of dishes piled up, go for the dishwasher. It's usually more efficient in terms of water use. Because energy use is heavily dependent on your type of dishwasher and water heater, comparing the two is a crapshoot. If you turn off heated dry, the odds will probably strongly favor dishwashers. If you only have a few dishes and can't wait to fill up the dishwasher, hand wash them. Below are some ways you can make each method more efficient.

For dishwasher tips, go here. To learn more handwashing tips, try this site. Also, learn why pre-rinsing is bad.

There are also a bunch of studies that back up these findings (and may favor dishwashers even more). Here are a few:

Rodale.

R. Stamminger (2006) at UBonn. 

Kegs or Cans?

College students are known for their inspiring idealism and frugality. Yet, when it comes to our night (or day) time buzz, idealism fades to apathy, and frugality morphs into extravagance. Don't tell me you've never regretfully looked at your account balance on Saturday morning. But, before the buzz hits in and good judgement is still within reach, we can make decisions that  protect both our virtuosity AND our bank accounts.

Inspired by a conversation I had tonight, I decided to look into the pros and cons of cans vs a keg. It may seem like the obvious winner, on both fronts, is a keg. BUT, it's not so simple.

Yes, a keg is reusable. It can serve almost 27,000 12oz beers in it's lifetime. It's constant reuse makes it a great choice. If everyone were using glass cups or reusing Solo cups, it would be a done deal. Unfortunately, Solo cups are not only  used once but are also made of polystyrene (#6), which is next to impossible to recycle. The closest place to Evanston that picks these cups up is in Rolling Meadows (17 mi away). Check your area here.

Aluminum, on the other hand, is practically perfect. While one can requires around 8.5x more energy to produce, each recycled can saves 95% of the energy needed to make a new one. Beer by the can is also a clear winner in terms of cost and convenience (see below)

Prices are based on Keystone Light from Evanston 1st Liquors 3/01/11. Here is a comparison in terms of sustainability. Keep in mind though, that plastic is lighter than aluminum, so it will be less energy intensive to transport.

If you are planning on recycling, cans are the clear winner both Earth and pocket-wise. However, the best choice is always to brew your own beer and reuse old glass bottles. It reduces waste and transportation. If that sounds like a pain, go out and hit the tap (glasses only)!

Fish Food for the Soul

Up until the last few years, I didn't have to worry about where my fish came from because I didn't eat them. My recent affinity for our underwater friends has made me think more deeply about the sustainability, or lack thereof, of the fishing industry. In the last 50 years, poor fishing practices have caused an incredible decline in fish abundance. As a result, the industry actually earns $50 billion/yr less less than it could. Our lack of foresight endangers the future of big fish, particularly those that are difficult to farm.

"The big fish, the bill fish, the groupers, the big things will be gone. It is happening now. If things go unchecked, we'll have a sea full of little horrible things that nobody wants to eat. We might end up with a marine junkyard dominated by plankton.” - Dr. Daniel Pauly

It's up to us to make the right consumer choices. Instead of eating Atlantic bluefin tuna whose population has been reduced 90% since the 70's, masticate on some yellowfin/blackfin tuna, albacore, or wahoo (that's what you'll be saying when you try it). Replace Chilean sea bass (fishing of which threatens many other species) with Alaskan sablefish, aka black cod.  Farm-raised shrimp and sturgeon are great alternatives to their wild counterparts. For more subs to popular seafood, check this out.  Below are some notes to guide your seafood/sushi decisions.

Thanks to Greenpeace's supermarket seafood sustainability scorecard, Target was honored for their eco-consciousness, and retailers like Trader Joe's and Costco were motivated to increase the sustainability of their stocks.

Sustainable Seafood Guidelines (courtesy of the Monteray Bay Aquarium). Download regional pocket guides here.

Sustainable Sushi Guidelines

Damned Dams

Dams have been supplying water and controlling floods for hundreds of years. But what happens with they fail?

In 1889, the Johnstown dam in Pennsylvania broke, killing over 2,200 people. Above is an illustration of the break and a picture of the devastation. Currently, roughly 5% (or 4,400) of dams in the US are considered safety hazards.  Fixing these dams would cost billions of dollars, money that we don't have. Therefore, in order to deal with these comprised dams, officials have reduced holding levels and developed evacuation plans.. After the Gulf oil spill, I'm not convinced these interim measures are enough. A huge unexpected storm (the result of climate change, of course) could open the floodgates.

From an environmental standpoint, the construction of dams was a horrible idea. They disturb essential habitat and block paths for fish like salmon, which swim up river to reproduce. They disrupt natural erosion and sedimentation cycles, destroy wetlands, and alter temperature regimes.

However, dams made place for cities to flourish, and if they were to break, thousands of lives would be at risk. Also, the billions of gallons of water released from a break would not only carry an enormous amount of debris and sediment but also accumulated lead, mercury,  PCBs, nitrogen, and (guess what.) invasive species. The environmental consequences could be devastating to areas downstream, and a return to the ecosystems of old may be impossible. However, it has been shown that dam removal can help restore wetlands, temperatures, and salmon pathways.

So, do we remove the dams? Do we wait for something to happen? Or, do we fix them?

Do You Ever Feel Like a Plastic Bag...Ready to Start Again?

going with the green chem theme. (Thanks Rosh!)

A Pipette Tip Has the Lifespan of a Mayfly

Pipette tips in stunning blue

I recently purchased a 1000 bag of pipette tips, the disposable plastic tips to micropipettes. They're one use only. In order to make 25 standard solutions, I can use upwards of 50 of these little guys. Multiply that by years of lab work by millions of people around the world and what do you get? A crapload of oil-based plastic waste that's either landfilled or worse, sent to an incinerator as hazardous waste. In some cases, these tips are sterilized before use, which requires high temperatures and even more petroleum.

The case of the poor pipette tip brings me to question the wastefulness of science research in general. The concept of green chemistry implores engineers and chemists to design more sustainable processes. However, the research required to establish these processes is wasteful in and of itself. The term "environmental researcher" is an oxymoron. We're hypocrites. We use chemicals derived from petroleum, metals that have been mined, and one-use vials and test tubes: all of which are delivered in excessively padded boxes 4 sizes too large.

An issue with university research, in particular, is that students are constantly moving into and out of labs. What happens to the leftover chemicals? They sit in cabinets until some curious person sees that the faded brown label sporting an expiry date from 10 years ago. My first thought, whenever I see one of those bottles, is that I'm going to die, either from the fumes or from an explosion. "RIP Ritu Gopal: young life taken by poorly inventoried lab cabinet." Why do these chemicals sit around for so long? One reason is that no one needed them. Another is that unless someone's lab is well inventoried, supplies can be forgotten and the items repurchased, creating a surplus of various glassware and chemicals.

With the exception of forgotten materials, the biggest reasons for wastefulness in research are safety and accuracy. The question is, where can we make the compromises? Safety is priority #1 and always will be, and there's no point to research if the results aren't valid. What do you think are some ways to safely reduce our waste? Is it possible?

Here are some resources I found. The search didn't turn up much:
MIT's list of green suppliers
Basic advice for greening your lab
From a wider perspective

If you have access to NU VPN or a subscription to Science, definitely check this out: This Man Wants to Green Your Lab

Thanks Brooke for giving me the idea to vent my frustration.

Eyes are Opening to the Potential of Sludge

Sludge from wastewater treatment plants is often dried and landfilled. But why? It's carbon rich. It's nutrient rich. It holds endless possibility. Finally, New York City is giving it a chance.

By allowing acetogenic and methanogenic microbes to digest the sludge, biogas (methane+CO2) is produced

What are some things sludge is good for?

FERTILIZER: sludge has high levels of nitrates, phosphates, and sulfates, which are essential for crop growth. Billions of dollars are spent on these types of fertilizers every year. Note: Direct application of sludge to fields can cause contamination of ground and surface waters.

ENERGY: Through anaerobic digestion (see diagram), sludge can be converted to methane gas. Energy can also be obtained by incineration.

ALGAE/BACTERIA: Biological mechanisms of obtaining useful products, such as energy, often require the nutrients that sludge provides.

What Rising Temperatures Mean for Biodiversity Loss

Don't let the upcoming "snowstorm of the decade" make you forget that global temperatures are actually rising.

Both orang-utans and tigers are severely threatened by climate change

It is estimated that between 20-30% of the world's biodiversity could be lost in the next 100 years. Forget polar bears. Rainforest creatures will have to relocate hundreds of miles. Mountainous animals will have nowhere cooler to go. Think about what this will do genetic diversity, which provides tremendous insight for pharma and biochem research.

The WWF lists a few of the species threatened by climate change.

Masdar: "Source" of Hope in the Middle of the Desert?

Street Design in Masdar

Masdar, loosely meaning "source" in Arabic, is a city in Abu Dhabi that was formed in hopes of creating "the world's first zero-carbon city". While Masdar will probably never reach that status, the city's designers have some solid plans on how to make the city more sustainable. In order to decrease automotive traffic and increase walkability, the architects have employed traditional Arab design. Narrow streets surrounded by permeable walls limit direct sunlight while also allowing cool winds to circulate. A new twist on the traditional Arabic wind tower also helps distribute ambient air through the streets. The combination of these things is supposedly capable of reducing street temperature to 70F. Windows have angled shades so that buildings can be naturally lit with minimal heat gain. In order to reduce Masdar's energy footprint, they've enlisted an incredible amount of solar panels.

However, in order for Masdar to become energy efficient, residents will have to do the same things as the rest of us: change their behavior. A 50% reduction in energy use means everyone in Masdar needs to up their thermostat to 77F.